Starwood Hotels & Resorts is to manage a new hotel in China, the Sheraton Urumqi Hotel. Scheduled to open in early 2007, the hotel will be located in a prime location in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Province, along a newly developed pedestrian walkway with a total built-up area of 2.2 million square feet dedicated to high-end international branded retail shops, entertainment and hotel uses. The hotel will feature 410 rooms and close to 18,500 square feet of meeting and function space, three dining outlets, a health club and spa, an indoor swimming pool and retail shops.
“We are very proud to be working in partnership with Xinjiang Haotai Industry Development Co. Ltd to introduce Sheraton and its signature services and products to travelers visiting Urumqi, also known as an important stop along the Silk Road,” said Miguel Ko, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia-Pacific.

“We are thrilled about our first Sheraton property in Urumqi city, one of the top two cities in terms of Gross Domestic Product in northwest China. The city’s beautiful landscape, strong colorful ethnic lifestyles and local customs truly set itself apart from other cities in China,” added Ko.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has expanded its portfolio in China significantly over the last year with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhen, and the signing of Sheraton hotels in Shenzhen, Xiamen, Ningbo, Haikou, Chongqing and Nanjing. The hotel group now operates 19 hotels with a further 14 properties under development in China.

Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Province, China’s most western province and largest administrative region. Approximately four hours by plane from Beijing, Urumqi is the political, economic and cultural center of Xinjiang. Xinjiang was a hub on the ancient Silk Road, a place where ancient Chinese culture met Indian, Persian, Arab, Greek and Roman cultures, leaving behind large amounts of cultural relics. As one of the most interesting regions in China with its rich history, archaeological remains, ethnic variety, superb landscapes and a unique Central Asian culture, Urumqi offers travelers extensive and varied sightseeing experiences.
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